Keeping true to Google's promise to deliver more products and third party services for Google Home, Sony, and Android TV have joined the ecosystem to offer more entertainment and convenience.
Sony said that the all chrome cast built-in Android TV and speakers will receive the latest firmware update for Google's personal assistant and smart hub. Hence, a voice command "OK Google, play some music on my Sony speaker" will automatically start the audio on the user's preferred speaker. This is the same with Android TV sets that automatically plays upon receipt of voice command, "OK Google, play Sherlock from Netflix on TV."
Google Home can also keep the music rolling according to genre, artist, playlist, album, and even mood with just voice commands.
The Sony speakers that will get the new firmware are HT-NT5, HT-ST9, HT-XT2, HT-CT790, HT-RT5 sound bars, STR-DN1060, STR-DN1070 model, and STR-DN860 receivers, wireless speaker model SRS-ZR7, SRS-X99, SRS-ZR5, and the SRS-HG1.
Sony Electronics' President Mike Fasulo said that "this additional functionality is another example of Sony's commitment to customer choice by delivering new and innovative technologies."
Users have to set up the supported device with the Home speaker before they can start playing videos from Netflix or YouTube or music from Google Play Music, Spotify or YouTube Music. For those who have speakers placed in multiple rooms, the Multi-room feature allows synchronization of Sony speakers and Google Home speakers to play one music simultaneously. To use this feature, create an "all speakers" group in the Google Home map and command "OK Google, play music on All Speakers."
Google Home was officially unveiled in October and aims to rival with Amazon Echo and Echo Dot. This smart home services and products central hub is powered by Google Assistant, which helps users complete tasks with a simple command that starts with "OK Google."